Marilyn Oshman

HOUSTON, TEXAS–Marilyn Oshman is the grand patroness and savior of the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, which produces the Houston Art Car Parade (set for Saturday, April 9) and has preserved the outsider-art Beer Can House. Her collection reflects a lifelong commitment to intellectual curiosity and art-world friendships. In her home, which PaperCity photographed in 2013, are a Wunderkammer-inspired library as well as an enchanting Leonora Carrington sculpture; caches of self-taught artists, especially the great Thornton Dial and Milwaukee visionary talent Eugene Von Bruenchenhein; and custom commissions from artist pals James Surls, Ed Wilson, and the late Dorman David. Blue-chip figures include Ed Ruscha, Deborah Butterfield, Chris Burden, and Joseph Beuys. Those with Texas connections encompass John Alexander, Luis Jiménez, Ron Hoover, Paul Kittelson, Sharon Kopriva, Forrest Prince, and Amber Eagle. “To me, all of the [artworks] have one thing in common, and it’s this essence of something exciting, mysterious, challenging, and protective,” Oshman says.

ART:

Leonora Carrington, Thornton Dial, Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Ed Ruscha, Deborah Butterfield, Chris Burden, Joseph Beuys, James Surls, Ed Wilson, Dorman David, John Alexander, Luis Jiménez, Ron Hoover, Paul Kittelson, Carter Ernst, Sharon Kopriva, Forrest Prince, Amber Eagle

CV:

Grand patroness and savior of the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. Oshman says of the highly personal collection she lives with, “To me, all of the pictures [and sculpture] have one thing in common — and it’s this essence of something exciting, mysterious, challenging, and protective.”